Education in Britain.
Each country in the United Kingdom has a separate education system.
The secretary of State for Education and Skills is responsible to the UK Parliament
for education in England, though the day to day administration and funding of state
schools is the responsibility of Local Education Authorities. Universal state
education in England and Wales was introduced for primary level in 1870 and
secondary level in 1900. Education is mandatory from ages five to sixteen.
In Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning is
responsible to the Scottish Parliament for Education, with day to day
administration and funding of state schools being the responsibility of Local
Authorities. Scotland legislated for universal provision of education in 1696.
The assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland have responsibilities for education
in Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
The majority of children are educated in state-sector schools, only a small
proportion of which select on the grounds of academic ability. Despite a fall in
actual numbers, the proportion of children in England attending private schools has
risen to over 7 %: the figure in Scotland is just over 4 % though it too has been
rising slowly in recent years. Just over half of students at the leading universities of
Cambridge and Oxford had attended state schools. State schools which are allowed
to select pupils according to intelligence and academic ability can achieve
comparable results to the most selective public schools: out of the top ten
performing schools in terms of GCSE results in 2006 two were state-run grammar
schools.
Some of the UK’s 138 university level institutions are internationally renowned,
especially those of Cambridge, Oxford and London.
Higher Education in the UK
Great Britain has a long history and ancient traditions of training of foreigners in
the higher educational institutions. The British education gives qualification of the
international level and has the highest quality on the broad audience of subjects.
All educational institutions of Great Britain have accreditation of the British
Council or other authorized organizations. The level of teaching is very high, and
more than 90% of students successfully finish universities and institutes.
Higher education in Britain is traditionally associated with universities, though
education of university standard is also given in other institutions such as colleges
and institutes of higher education, which have the power to award their own
degrees.
The term “higher education” in Great Britain concerns programs, whose purpose is
award of a degree: the bachelor, the master or the doctor. It is possible to receive
degrees the bachelor in high schools and to continue it in postgraduate study. It is
possible to receive master in high schools, some higher education colleges or
comprehensive establishments.
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In the entire UK there are about 115 universities and another 140 colleges of such
specialties as fine arts, music and drama, technology or education. A typical British
university enrolls from 6000 to 12000 students. The exception is Britain’s Open
University, a non-residential institution, which serves more than 20000 students.
The students who go on to college are very well-prepared to do so. During the last
two years of high school they specialize in college preparatory courses and then
they take special national examinations (A-level exams) or Scottish leaving
examinations in Scotland in order to qualify to compete for acceptance to a
university program.
Good A-level results in at least two subjects are necessary to get a place at a
university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose
their students after interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings
with it a grant from their local education authority.
The minimal age of entrants usually makes 18 years. The majority of the future
students enter the university just after school, but the number of more adult
students who act after the ending of college of professional or further training has
increased recently.
The university is like a federation of colleges. It arranges courses, lectures, exams
and awards the degrees. University teaching combines lectures, practical classes
and small group teaching in either seminars or tutorials.
English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of
foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction,
and way of students’ life.
University degree courses generally last 3 or 4 years though in medicine5 or 6
years are required. The first degree of Bachelor is awarded on the completion of
such a course depending on satisfactory examination results. Further study of
research is required at modern universities for the degree of Master and by all
universities for that of Doctor. Universities are centers of research as well as
teaching and many postgraduates are engaged in research for higher degrees,
usually Doctorates.
The majority of university rates last from two till four years. Rates with a break for
practice can increase this term by one year, and medical and veterinary rates last
five years. It is the basic rate after which students receive a degree of bachelor. In
England and Wales for reception of a degree of bachelor it is required three years
of study, in Scotland – four. In a case when for reception of any degree it is
required not only study, but also an industrial practice (Sandwich courses), the
general term will accordingly be extended.
Students who obtain their Bachelor degree can apply to take a further degree
course, usually involving a mixture of exam courses and research. There are two
different types of post-graduate courses – the Master’s Degree (MA or MSc),
which takes 1 or 2 years, and the higher degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD),
which takes 2 or 3 years. Funding for post-graduate courses is very limited, and
even students with first class degrees may be unable to get a grant. Consequently
many post-graduates have heavy bank loans are working to pay their way to a
higher degree.
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British universities are independent, autonomous, self-governing institutions.
Although they all receive financial support from the state, the Department of
Education and Science has no control over their regulations, curriculum,
examinations, and appointment of staff or the way in which money is spent.
There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known
universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester,
Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great
Britain. They are often called collectively Oxbridge. Both universities are
independent. Most of their students are former public school leavers. Oxford and
Cambridge universities each have over 10000 full-time students. Oxford is older
than Cambridge, more philosophical, classical and theological. Cambridge on the
other hand, is more scientifically based. Oxford and Cambridge universities consist
of a number of colleges. Each college is different but in a number of ways they are
alike. Each college is governed by a Master. The larger ones have more than 400
members; the smallest colleges have less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a
wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining
hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms
for teaching purposes.
Oxford University has a reputation of a privileged school. Many prominent
political figures of the past and present times got their education at Oxford.
Outstanding scientists work in the numerous colleges of the University teaching
and doing research work in physics, chemistry, mathematics, cybernetics,
literature, modern and ancient languages, art and music, psychology.
Cambridge University started during the 13th century and grew until today. Now
there are more than 30 colleges. The University was only for men until 1871, when
the first women’s college was opened. In the 1970s most colleges opened their
doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges are now mixed. Lots of great
men studied at Cambridge, among them Desiderius Erasmus, the great Dutch
scholar, Roger Bacon, the philosopher, Milton, the poet, Oliver Cromwell, the
soldier, Newton, the scientist, and Kapitza, the famous Russian physicist.
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